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Paul Berry, executive editor of the Springfield News-Leader, will be leaving to take a job with Swift Communications in Greeley, Colorado.

Allen Jones, president of News-Leader Media Group, announced Berry's departure late Friday during a meeting with employees.

"Paul Berry has an amazing opportunity to go back to Colorado," Jones said. "I know this is something Paul feels good about."

The search for a new top newsroom leader has already begun. Managing Editor Cheryl Whitsitt will lead news operations at the News-Leader in the interim.

Berry, 36, was named executive director of news and engagement at the News-Leader in June 2014, moving to Springfield from Fort Collins, Colorado, where he was the digital editor/engagement editor at The Coloradoan. At the News-Leader, Berry focused on expanding the newspaper's digital footprint, encouraging reporters and editors to share their journalistic efforts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms.

"I'm most proud of the journalism we did and that we spread that journalism into digital arenas more successfully," Berry said. "I'm also really proud of getting the right people in the right positions. We have an amazing crop of journalists in this room. It has just been a joy in so many ways to watch this team realize itself."

Wednesday will be his last day at the News-Leader. He said he looks forward to going back to Colorado with his dog Salvador, who "is very much looking forward to being a mountain dog."

At his new post, Berry will be audience engagement director for Swift's 19 newspapers in Colorado, California and Nevada. He'll be based at the Greeley Tribune, where he will work as engagement editor.